Journey 2016 towards a secure & peaceful Pakistan: ISPR DG

RAWALPINDI, Dec 31 (APP): Armed forces of Pakistan took a number
of measures during 2016 aimed at enhancing the security and ensuring safety of the people subsequently making the country’s defence further impregnable.

At the end of 2016 and on the advent of 2017, Director General of
Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor, in a tweet message, said, “Journey 2016 .. Towards a secure and peaceful
Pakistan Pakistanis Zindabad.”

Sharing details about the achievements during 2016, he said defence
of the country was impregnable. Pakistan successfully tested enhanced version of Babur cruise missile and indigenously produced Ra’ad missile.
He said arrangements were made for the actualization and security of
(fate changer) China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), including construction of 870 kilometers road network and raising of Special
Security Division.

Pakistan Navy proved its vigilance and operational preparedness by detecting and blocking Indian submarine from entering in Pakistani waters at south of Pakistani Coast.

Task Force 88 for CPEC maritime security was raised and Pakistan Air Force targeted strikes on terrorists hideouts in support of operation Zarb-e-Azb.

Earth breaking of Center of Excellence was made to enhance PAF capability and to undertake complex, demanding future challenges and counter terrorists operations.

PAF’s C-130 airship won best AC trophy at Royal International Tattoo show UK among 50 nations while defence collaboration with Nigeria was undertaken for provision of trainer jets (Mushhak).

As far as the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LOC) and Working Boundary is concerned, during the year, India resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling at 379 times.

In response to the violations, Pakistani troops responded the Indians in effective manner whereby killing her 40 soldiers. Due to Indian firing and shelling along the LOC and Working Boundary, 46 civilian Pakistanis embraced Shahadat.

The Military Courts, established after the terror attack at Army Public School Peshawar in Dec 2014, during the Operation Zarb-e-Azb, disposed of a number of cases of terrorists whereby 161 hardcore terrorists were handed down death penalty while other 131 were awarded imprisonment. Till date 12 executions have been carried out.

He said during the Operation Zarb-e-Azb, 3500 terrorists were killed and 2108 were injured. Those embraced Shahadat in defense of country during the operation was 583.

Recounting details about the damages caused to the terrorists, he said their 992 hideouts as well as 7599 factories for making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and Ammo were destroyed. During the operation, 18087 weapons of different caliber were recovered while 253 tons of explosive materials were also destroyed.

During the year, the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) carried out a total of 25620 Intelligence Based and Combing Operations with the breakup of 11735 in Punjab, 294 in Balochistan, 646 in Sindh, 4007 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa/FATA and 465 in Gilgit Baltistan.

About socio uplift program in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa/FATA, he said that total 567 projects meant to engage the general public in economic activities have been initiated. He said around 930 km of roads have been built while, 54 km transmission line have been laid.

In addition,he said two sports stadiums have also been constructed in the remote parts.

During the year, Pakistan Rangers conducted 1992 operations in Karachi whereby arresting 2847 criminals, besides 350 terrorists and 446 target killers. Due to this hard work, the cases of target killing has been reduced by 91 % while terror acts by 72 %.

Director General ISPR said that 71% Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) in North Waziristan Agency due to Operation Zarb-e-Azb have repatriated while 68 % TPDs, and 91 % others of South Waziristan and Khyber Agency respectively have returned to their native areas.